Now that the anti-asphalt plant protesters in Lopatcong Township have had a chance to cool down and a court decision is pending, it’s time to shed some light on activities that went unnoticed. It wasn’t the mayor or council who made a decision on allowing the asphalt plant in our township’s commercial area. With the necessary permits, studies and plans presented, the planning board made the decision.

I worked at an asphalt plant when I was in the Army. The plant was more than 50 years old. It was dirty, smoke and stinky when operating. For most people, the first thing that comes to mind about such a plant is a smelly dump truck ahead of them in traffic. The plant scheduled to be built in Lopatcong was a clean, state-of-the-art plant.

There is an asphalt plant not far from Strykers Road, on Route 57 in Greenwich Township, behind Scotts Mountain where homes in the $700,000 range were built. You didn’t hear complaints from residents. Most people didn’t know it was there.

Asphalt plants only run when there is a need for asphalt and in good weather. Lopatcong residents thought the plant would run 24/7.

Before the plans were presented to the planning board, the mayor, council and the clerk’s office were working with Bank of America on a proposal for $1 billion office building across the street from the asphalt plant location. Bank of America would have provided hundreds of jobs and cut residents’ property taxes in half. It had no problem with an asphalt plant as a neighbor.

Then Bank of America decided not to build there, with no explanation. Was this because of the protests? Just my thoughts.